title: Antibiotic use: knowledge and perceptions in two university hospitals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate knowledge and perceptions about antibiotic prescription in two university hospitals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Physicians completed four case vignettes describing infections and a questionnaire. For each vignette, the physicians were asked to determine whether hospital admission and antibiotic treatment were needed; whether a treatment change was needed; and the duration of antibiotic treatment. The questionnaire collected data on beliefs and perceptions regarding antibiotic prescription.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 412 eligible physicians, 206 agreed to participate. Factors associated with a vignette score above the median were anaesthesiologist/intensivist (adjusted odds ratio, 3.09; P=0.02), perception of inappropriate antibiotic use as risky for the patient (adjusted odds ratio, 2.84; P=0.03) and self-efficacy (adjusted odds ratio, 2.18; P=0.02), whereas being a surgeon was associated with a vignette score lower than the median (adjusted odds ratio, 0.14; P<0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high participation rate suggested awareness of antibiotic use. Educational programmes specifically targeted at surgeons are needed. We identified cognitive factors that affect knowledge of antibiotic prescription, and may help in the design of education programmes and interventions aimed at improving antibiotic use.
authors.affiliation: Infection Control Unit, Bichat-Claude Bernard Hospital, Assistance publique-hôpitaux de Paris, and Denis Diderot University, Paris, France. jean-christophe.lucet@bch.aphp.fr
authors.forename: Jean-Christophe
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lucet
authors.forename: Marie-Hélène
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Nicolas-Chanoine
authors.forename: Carine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Riveros-Palacios
authors.forename: Sylvain
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Diamantis
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Le Grand
authors.forename: Emmanuelle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Papy
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rioux
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fantin
authors.forename: Agnes
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lefort
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ravaud
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D010820:Physicians; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents